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How Many Latinos Graduate College?



About half of Latinos who enroll in a four-year college do not end up graduating, according to a new analysis from ¡Excelencia in Education!  Latinos’ college graduation rate (52%) also is lower than their White peers (65%).   How can we increase Latino college graduation rates?   Let’s dive into to the numbers and explore how to close the Latino education gap, and better support Latino students.    Latino College Graduation by the Numbers  28% of Latino adults (age 25 and older) currently have an associate degree or higher, compared to 48% of non-Latino White adults.  To better understand that gap, the new analysis from ¡Excelencia in Education! highlights 4 measures that track degree completion:  1. Graduation Rate: Total percentage of students who ...

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New Resource: CDC Project Firstline Infection Control Micro-Learns: Rashes!


rash at doctor

CDC's Project Firstline knows that healthcare workers are short on time, but this shouldn’t limit access to practical and valuable infection control training. That’s why CDC's Project Firstline developed Infection Control Micro-Learns – a series of guided infection control discussions that can be easily incorporated into team meetings or huddles facilitated by an experienced team member with infection control expertise. These short and easy-to-understand learning opportunities can help healthcare workers recognize and minimize infection control risks to protect themselves, coworkers, and patients from infectious diseases. Let’s explore the Infection Control Micro-Learn on rashes! What to Do When You See a Patient with a Rash A rash is abnormal skin that is usually red, ...

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Connect with Breast Cancer Researchers with ShareForCures



The Susan G. Komen Foundation is working to discover cures for breast cancer faster with ShareForCures.   ShareForCures is a breast cancer research registry that connects researchers with information from people who have or had breast cancer.  “The goal of ShareForCures is to focus on research that will have the most significant impact for people affected by breast cancer,” according to the registry website.   Here’s how you or someone you know can participate in ShareForCures!  Join ShareForCures  Individuals interested in participating in the registry can start by creating a free MyKomen + Health account and complete the ShareForCures registration.  Participants are asked to complete informed consent and medical release forms.  “Information that could ...

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Thomas Brittain Dedicates Retirement Years to Caregiving; “It Could Be You That Needs Care One Day.”


thomas brittain

Thomas Brittain and his immediate family gathered in the neurologist’s office, eager to hear the health status of their beloved family member, 67-year-old Sarah Cadena. “Your mother has a cognitive impairment,” the neurologist said. “We recommend that she transition to living with family for her own safety.” Without a second thought, the Brittain family began planning how to care for Sarah Cadena. That was 13 years ago. Since then, Sarah Cadena has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a disease that can lead to progressive memory loss and ability to perform daily activities. Thomas, Sarah Cadena’s son, a retired San Antonio police officer, is now her primary caretaker. Sarah Cadena lives with Thomas and his family, and as far as caretaking goes, Thomas said he and ...

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Latino Cigarette Consumption Rises with Language Acculturation



As Latino individuals become more acculturated to the English language and U.S. culture, their cigarette use tends to rise, according to a study on cigarette consumption behaviors among the Latino community.   The National Institute on Minority Health Disparities (NIMHD) -supported research found that this trend occurs particularly among Latino men, and that cigarette consumption also varies based on educational attainment.  Let’s dive into what the numbers look like for Latino smokers and what these study results mean for smoking prevention in this population.   Latinos and Language Acculturation    Acculturation is defined as “the process of two cultures blending, generally seen when an immigrant or minority culture acclimates with the dominant culture.”   For ...

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15 Resources for San Antonio and South Texas Alzheimer’s Caregivers


Caregiver resources

Over 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Of those caregivers, about 25% are Latino. Many Latinos are “sandwich generation” caregivers — meaning that they care for an aging parent and at least one child. While caring for aging family members can be rewarding and feel like the right thing to do, caregiving is a full-time job that can be physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing. That’s why we’re highlighting 15 resources to help San Antonio and South Texas Alzheimer’s caregivers navigate caregiving challenges. Check out the list below, and feel free to share these resources with other caregivers. Caring for the Caregiver at UT Health San Antonio If you live in or near San Antonio, the Caring for the ...

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Carlos Olivas: Every Day is Different as a Latino Caregiver


carlos a latino alzheimer's caregiver

A cool breeze hits Carlos Olivas III’s face and suddenly the smells of fresh, warm coffee and donuts hits his nose. He enjoys a short, tranquil moment at a bakery as part of his daily routine alongside his father, Carlos Olivas Jr., also known as Charlie. Carlos is a full-time caregiver for Charlie, who is living with Alzheimer’s in Sacramento. Carlos saw what caregiving looked like from a young age. He watched his mother and father care for his grandmother and, later, his father care for his ailing mother.   “My dad was the caregiver for my mom, who was dealing with breast cancer, diabetes, and congenital heart failure. In 2008, she passed. Reflecting back, that was the first time, the real hero,” Carlos said. “He set the stage as a male caregiver, without knowing ...

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5 Resources to Enhance the Lives of San Antonio Seniors


Senior resources

While no official age classifies someone as a “senior citizen,” a few big milestones may mark the status. Some of these milestones include retirement from the workplace, reductions in income, changes in health, and a shift in life priorities – like traveling and making time for social groups. Adjusting to new life phases as one ages is easy for some, but a struggle for others. This is especially true for Latino seniors, who face a variety of health disparities, including disproportionate rates of disability, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and more. Combined with a potentially lower income and limited access to healthcare, maintaining a healthy lifestyle in older age can be hard for Latinos and all seniors. That’s why the city of San Antonio, home of Salud America! and its ...

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Gabriella Godines: Finding Her ‘Time’ to Become a Physician



In early 2019, Gabriella “Gaby” Godines got the news that she wasn’t accepted to medical school. She was understandably disappointed, but she’s a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Looking back, Gaby can confirm that medical school wasn’t the right path for her at that time. Instead, her opportunity to pursue a career in medicine would come later – after a few more years of patience, hard work, and compassion, and an internship at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio. “Everyone has different journeys toward their goal,” Gaby said. “I’m really grateful for where I am.” Journey to Medicine Growing up in Laredo, Texas, a border town, Gaby spent a lot of time in her father’s medical clinic where he ...

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